What's with "being saved"?

I have been asked “Have you been saved?”. I have been told “You need to be saved”. I am always hearing about this “being saved” and it sounds like a bunch of nonsense to me. No offense.
I have this friend who is ridiculous. I love her to pieces but I can’t stand when she gets all bible-thumping christian on me. She has been in and out of an abusive relationship for years now and is now wearing her engagment ring from him…again. In the past two weeks she has ended things and then gotten back with him the day after, probably 3 times. This last time she told me “Oh my gosh Kelsie, I didn’t tell you! He got saved last night at bible study!!” And now she wears his ring. I have seen this before with her. I have seen him try the religion card to get her back…works every time.
I don’t believe in “being saved”. If there is a heaven I don’t believe I need to be saved to get there. How does one determine if he has been saved or not? How can you certainly say “He was saved.”? What the hell is with this ”being saved” business?